Monday, 20 February 2012

MAU was warned - NST

NSI had warned parent body about hiring unlicensed foreign doctor

THE Malaysian Athletic Union (MAU) was warned by the National Sports Institute (NSI) last month that engaging the services of an unlicensed foreign doctor is illegal.

The warning was issued after 4x400m runner Yunus Lasaleh tested positive for the anabolic agent methandienone at the Indonesia Sea Games in November.

Yunus said he was given pills and injections by a Bulgarian doctor working for MAU during training camps in Miri and Brunei ahead of the Sea Games.

The athlete believes the pills and injections could explain his positive dope test and this among others is expected to be debated heatedly at today's MAU doping inquiry and council meeting at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

Any medical practitioner must be registered with the Malaysian Medical Council in order to practise in Malaysia and it is not certain if MAU complied with this requirement.

Timesport learned that the presence of the Bulgarian doctor prompted NSI director-general Datuk Dr Ramlan Abd Aziz to warn MAU of the consequences of hiring an unlicensed doctor in a letter last month.

Ramlan confirmed he wrote to MAU, saying: "Yes, we did write. But there was no reply."

Yunus, who lodged a police report against those responsible for his positive dope test on Friday, blames MAU deputy president Karim Ibrahim for arranging the provision of banned drugs to be administered to him.

The athlete's claim is backed up by former national coach Harun Rasheed, who was also present during the training camps.

"The doctor gave vitamin pills and injections from what I was told. But when I asked what kind of vitamins, he refused to say," said Harun in an interview on Astro Arena's Dengan Izin programme on Friday.

"When I asked Karim, he said not to worry and that they are all professionals and know what they are doing."

Karim is expected to be asked to explain by the council where the funds to procure the pills and injections were obtained.

Yunus, in his statement, claimed he was told to take the pills and injections by Karim "because they were expensive, same price as the price of a brick house."

Karim faces the threat of suspension at today's meeting as several affiliates are unhappy that he remains free to continue with his duties despite the severe allegations against him.

Another matter that is expected to be discussed is the one-year suspension of Harun, who claims the existence of a recording of a meeting with Karim and six athletes who skipped doping tests last May should have exonerated him.

Harun said he acted under the instructions of Karim and Timesport was told by a source that the recording was never played at Harun's inquiry despite the chairman Datuk R. Annamalai receiving a copy.